Pacific Symphony schedules 'Symphonies in the Cities'

July 3, 2014

Updated July 10, 2014 9:53 p.m.

Carl St. Clair, conductor of the Pacific Symphony, leads a conducting class for kids at the Musical Playground before the start of a 2009 Symphony in the Cities concert at Oso Viejo Community Park in Mission Viejo. PAUL RODRIGUEZ , STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The Pacific Symphony announced dates this week for its annual “Symphony in the Cities” summer concerts, which are given free in local parks. Conductor Carl St.Clair and the orchestra will perform in the Oso Viejo Community Park in Mission Viejo on July 26, and in Mike Ward Community Park in Irvine on July 27.

This year’s program will include music by Dvorák (the Slavonic Dance No. 1), Bach (the “Air” from the Orchestral Suite No. 3) and Bizet (a set of numbers from “Carmen” sung by mezzo-soprano Ola Rafalo). Four young violinists from the orchestra’s Santiago Strings ensemble will serve as the soloists in Vivaldi’s Concerto in B Minor. John Williams’ “Olympic Fanfare” will also be performed, as will various patriotic pieces, Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait” and his humorous song “I Bought Me a Cat.” KUSC’s Rich Capparela hosts the concerts and also serves as narrator in “Lincoln Portrait.”

The concerts begin at 7 p.m. At both locations a number of pre-concert events – hands-on activities for children – are planned, including instrument making, a drum circle, an instrument petting zoo, and an opportunity to meet the musicians. St.Clair will also lead a conducting clinic for kids, teaching them how to conduct Sousa’s march “Hands Across the Sea,” in which they will then assist during the concert. Pre-concert events begin at 4 p.m. in Mission Viejo and at 5:30 p.m. in Irvine.

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